DPR launches Operation to enforce sale of petrol at government price in Imo

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Imo has launched a special operation to ensure that petrol was sold at government regulated pump price.

The operation christened “Operation total enforcement” is aimed at the sale of petrol at government pump price in the state.

Mr Peter Ijeh, the South East Zonal Operations Controller of the DPR disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Owerri on Monday.

According to Ijeh, the operation will continue until every station in the state sell the product at the approved price of N145.

He warned that defaulting marketers would be penalised by having their products auctioned free to the public.

“We have made it clear to the Association of Imo Petroleum marketers and distributors that they must comply with the approved price of 145 or risk having their products auctioned for free.

“Normalcy has returned to Imo and there is no more scarcity so there is no need for petrol to be sold above the approved price.

“We have been forced to apply strict measures because as soon as we leave these stations they readjust their metres and continue selling at prices higher than N145.

“It is becoming a vicious cycle and until government changes the pump prices every station should sell at 145,” he said.

Ijeh stated that 57 of the 73 stations visited by the surveillance teams on Monday were selling at the approved price of 145 per litre.

The controller said that eight stations were sealed, five had no products while three had violated their seal order and would be penalised.

He stated that the fine for each sealed pump was N100, 000 while Seal violation attracted N1million penalty.

He reiterated the commitment of DPR to ensure that motorists were not shortchanged by marketers and urged the public to report defaulters to the department.

Ijeh however, advised motorists to avoid the eight stations that were sealed and blacklisted for under dispensing and overpricing.

He listed the defaulting stations as Temple consolidated petroleum Ltd, World Bank Road, Peno Oil Ltd, Okigwe Road, Geomil Nigeria limited, Akabo, Goduach Oil and Gas Ltd and Seagold Petroleum limited on Port Harcourt road.

Others blacklisted are Desmond Industries Nigeria Limited, Aba Road, PC Ejims Ltd and Obiudo Nigeria Ltd, Orji all in Owerri.